Method and means for registering a series of color printing plates



Sept. 21, 1954 w. F. HUCK 2,689,411 METHOD AND MEANS FOR REGISTERING A SERIES OF COLOR PRINTING PLATES Filed May 2a, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 as 77 INVENTOR.

a z v as WILLIAM E HUCK @MCW Sept. 21, 1954 2,689,411

W. F. HUCK METHOD AND MEANS FOR REGISTERING A SERIES OF COLOR PRINTING PLATES Filed May 28, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Fue. 5

I50 Ill Fae I INVHVTOR. WILLIAM E HUCK Arramvty Sept. 21, 1954 Filed May 28, l

w. F. HUCK 2,689,411 METHOD AND MEANS FOR REGISTERING A SERIES OF COLOR PRINTING PLATES 948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I I I l I I INVENTOR WILLIAM E Huczx,

ArToRN Patented Sept. 21, 1954 METHOD AND MEAN S FOR REGISTERING A SERIES OF COLOR PRINTING PLATES William F. Huck, Forest Hills, N.

Y., assignor to Huck Co., New York, N. Y., a partnership Application May 28, 1948, Serial No. 29,858 22 Claims. (Cl. 33184.5)

This invention relates to printing, more particularly to a method of and means for registering a series of color printing plates.

In multi-color printing, such as for example in the printing of the color section of a Sunday newspaper, it is common. practice to print two or more colors on the same sheet of paper and in the same location. In order that the finished product shall present a pleasing and artistic appearance, it is necessary that all the colors be accurately positioned with respect to one another. If the printing is to be done with four colors, the printer in order to obtain one multi-colored picturemay apply, in series or in succession, a printing of yellow ink, then a printing of red ink, then a printing of blue ink, and finally a printing of black ink all on the same paper. This requires four separate and different printing plates, each plate beingused in succession to apply a different colored ink to the single sheet or web of paper or other material. All of the four plates must be accurately registered, in order that an artistic and saleable picture will result.

Some printing machines use fiat printing plates and other machines use curved printing plates mounted on a printing cylinder. This invention is directed to both types of printing plates and the instant invention has for one of its primary objects the provision of a new and improved method and means for accurately positioning or registering a succession of printing plates so that extremely accurate multi-colored printing can be produced.

In printing newspapers, magazines and many other articles, it is essential that the time required for the various operations be held to an absolute minimum. This is especially true when printing colored newspaper sections and colored magazines. Therefore, another primary object of the invention is to provide an extremely fast as well as an accurate method and means for registering printing plates used for multi-colored printing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for registering flexible plates, as for example rubber plates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method for mounting or holding printing plates to a form once they have been properly registered with respect to that form.

I Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference shouldbe made'to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. firstpreferred device embodying this invention and arranged for registering and mounting fiat printing plates;

2 Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but

showing the cover member of the device in a raised position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of this invention, the device being arranged for registering and mounting curved printing plates;

Fig. 4-A is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism similar to Fig. 4, but with parts shown in a different position.

Fig. 5 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5-A is an elevational sectional view of a portion of the mechanism similar to with parts shown in a different position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a slightly modified form of the device shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, of the device shown in Fig. 7 as seen in the direction of the arrow A.

Referring to the drawings, this invention is shown in one form in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as applied to a device for registering and mounting flat printing plates, and comprises a frame structure II, having a flat table top I2 at its left side, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The table top I2 is provided with a plurality of accurately located and firmly embedded upstanding registering pins I4, and a flat mounting plate I3 is removably carried on the table-top I2, the pins I4 being used to engage registering apertures l3a accurately located in the mounting plate I3. This arrangement makes it possible to accurately position the plate I3 on the table-top I2.

An upper or top transfer suction box I5 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending spaced arms I1 that are pivotally or hingedly carried on a horizontally extending shaft I8 that is supported from the frame II by a pair of spaced rearwardly inclined brackets I9 and 20. The brackets I9 and 20 extend beyond the shaft I8 and thereby carry a horizontally extending bumper bar 2| against which the arms I! rest when the cover member I5 is in the raised position as shown Fig. 3. The distal end of the suction box I5 is provided with a handle 22 by which the cover can be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and vice versa. The vacuum or suction box I5 comprises a perforated bottom-plate 25 which is tightly held, as by screws, to the under side of a down facing concave casting 26. The plate 25 Fig. 5, but

by means of a flexible hose 21 to one outlet of av four-way valve 28 which through another outlet is connected by a pipe 28a to a vacuum or exhaust pump (not shown). It will be understood that vacuum or suction acting through perforations 32 in the plate 25 is capable of holding a pair of printing plates 30 and 3| against the lower or outer surface of said plate 25, it being understood that the upper surface of the printing plates may be-the surface that does the-printing when the plates are used. This will be more fully described hereinafter.

The entire suction box assembly I is not only hinged on the shaft l8, but can also be slid axially along the shaft 58, thus making it possible to move-thesuction box assembly from a position toward the left side of Fig. 1 tea position toward the right side and vice versa'.

A heavily constructed right top 38 of the frame H has a pair of rectangular apertures or openings 3'! and 38 which are separated by a heavy intermediate top section 39. A bottom plate 4|) is secured by means (not shown) to the under side of the parts 3-6 and 39; and this plate 40 has a pair of apertures 46 and 4'! which accommodate a downwardly projecting portion of a pair ofhollow members or up-facing suction boxes 4| and 42 each of which isrespectively covered by a perforated top-plate 43 and 44 which are tightly held in place, as by screws. Reference to the drawings will show that the boxes 4| and 4-2, in their horizontal dimensions, are smaller-than the openings 3 and 38; It will alsobe'noted' that the total height of the box 4| (also 42-) plus its cover p1ate'43 (44) is equal to the-distance from the top of the plate iflzto the top of the side 36. The boxes 4| and-42 canbe moved forward, backward, side-wise and rotated in the openings 37 and 38.

The boxes 4| and42 are heldin place and adjustably moved by micrometrical and backlashfree-means now to be described. The hollow box 42 is engagedon its rear by a: pair of. compression springs"50-5| and on its right side. by aspring 52-. The hollow box 4| isv likewise engaged. on its rear by springs 53-454 and on; itsleft. side by by the spring 52; The box 42v isv engagedon its left by an adjusting screw '58 and on its front by a pair of spaced adjusting screws 59 and 6D; the box 4| is likewise engaged on its right by a screw 63 and on its front by screws iii and 62.. The right box has a hose 65 connectedto itsbottom and extending throughthe aperture 46, and the box 42 likewise has a hose 66, both of the hoses 65" and 66 being connected respectively through valves Wand TI and acommonpipen to an opening of the valve 28 and thence to a vacuum pump (not shown). Thus,.when suction is applied. to the cavity of box 4| and/or 42 printing plates 30' and/or 3|" will beheld respectively to the perforated covers 44 and/or. 43.; it being understood that these plates 30" and 3|" later take the position of the plates 30fand3|1 The suction box 4| can be adjusted slightlyto the left orright in the opening 38; by the use of a small hand wheel carried at the front endof a. shaft. 8| and that is journaled in a bearing 82 carried by the bottom plate 49. The rear end of the shaft 8| carries a helical gear 83 that drivingly engages a helical gear 84 that is formed on one end of the screw 63. E3 threaded through the heavy section 39 and by pressing, against the side of the box 4| is able to. compress the spring 52. The box 4| can thus be moved from left to right and back again by operation of the handle 80. The box 4| can also be moved from front to rear and from rear to front by operation of the screws 6| and 62 which counteract against the pressure of the springs 53 and 54 respectively. It will be noted that limited rotation of the box 4| in' theopening 38 is possible by turning screw (B l in and screw 62 out or vice versa. Thus thebox 41 with its vacuum held printing plate 31 can be shifted in any direction and rotatedwithin the limits of the device and at the same time remain locked to cover 43 of the box 4|. The suction box 42 is similarly moved from right to left by means of ahand wheel Ell -and a shaft 86. Theshaft 86 is journaled' in a bearing 8'!- and by means of intermeshing helical gears 88 and 89" rotates the screw 58, thereby compressing or relaxing the spring 52- as the suction box 42' moves. Also, in a manner similar to that previously described for screws El and E2, the screws 59 and 30' cause motionof the suction box 42- against the compression springs 50 and 5|.

The right side of the frame H has a pair of spaced hinge brackets 90' and 9| which support opposite ends of a shaft 32. The shaft 92- acts as a pivot fora support bracket 91, which bracket pivotally supports a suitable gage plate or transparency 93". The'transparency 93 has a pair of spaced registering holes or-apertures 93" and 93 which when the transparency is in the lowered position shown by solid lines in Fig. 2; engage a; pair ofregistering pins 94 and 35, the former being located toward theleft front and the latter being'located' toward the right front of the heavy section 39'. Thusthe transparency willbe accurately" located when it is in the lowered or down position shown in Fig. 2. The transparency' is supported by a lug 96* when it is in the raised or dash-do position of Fig. 2. The transparency 9-3- has marks on its lowermost side which are similar to and can be madeto match or register with similar marks that are carried by the printing plates 3!!" and 3|. In Fig; 1 these marks on. the transparency are indicated by the numerals: T4 and T5" and are'the' outl'nes of the outside limits of the printing plates 31" and 30', although it will be understood that any other suitable matching or register marks may be used.

The valve28jhas. an operating handle. 98,,Which may. assume any. one ofthree. positions When the handle98 is verticalasshown. by. dottedlines 9811 (Fig. 2):, the valyeis closedand the. suction of pipe 280. is blocked. When the valve 98. is to the left-as indicated by solid lines; vacuum is applied. to.- the; hinged suction box I25; and when the: handle. is to; the right. as; indicated by: 9811, suction is-iapplied: to; either orboth of. the: suction boxes-4 |+-4-2", depending. on the" condition? of? the valves Hi- -l l.

The method of operation of theabove-descr-ibed device is'asfollows': At the beginning of the operationthe suction boxes- 41* and 42* will; by means of'thescrews 59; 60'; 6|", 62*and handwheels The screw 5 30 and 85, be roughly centered in and 31 respectively. Then plates 30'-3I, which are to be operated upon by the machine of this invention, will be placed on and in rough alignment with the perforated plates 43 44 of the boxe 4I-42. When this has been accomplished, the valves 10 and H are opened and the handle 98 of the valve 28 is moved to the right position 98b. This causes suction or vacuum to hold the plates 30 and 3| firmly on the cover plates 44 and 43 respectively. Then the transparency 93 is lowered to the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 2, and is registered by means of matching holes 93'-93" and pins 94-95. The transparency 93 will rest lightly on the plates 30 and 3I so that an error between the outline edges of the plates and the outline marks on the under surface of the transparency can be observed. Then thescrews 59, 50, 6|, and 52 and the hand wheels 80 and 85 are manipulated in such a manner as to move the printing plates so that their outline edges exactly correspond with the outline mark carried by the transparency. When the printing plates are properly positioned, the transparency 93 is raised, and the transfer member or suction box I is moved to the right by sliding along the shaft I8. Finally the suction box I5 is lowered over the printing plates 303I' with it perforated plate 25 downfacing, care being taken to make sure that the holes 23 in the the openings 38 the pairof printing plate 25 register with the pins 9495 carried by the heavy top 36. Turning the lever 98 to the left position 90 will disconnect the vacuum from the suction boxes M and 42 and transfer the pull of the vacuum to the suction box I5. Then the member I5, and the printing plates 30'-3I' held thereto, are raised by means of the handle 22, and when raised are transferred to the left portion of the frame II by sliding the member I5 along the shaft I8. While in the raised position, the backs of the printing plates are exposed and will receive a suitable adhesive application for cementing it to a surface as follows. Thereafter the member I5 is lowered until the printing plates (now designated as 30 and 3|) rest on the upper surface of the removable mounting plate I3. In doing this care should be taken to see that the holes 2323 in the plate 25 register with the pins I4. As soon as the plates 30-3I are in position'on the plate I3 the handle of valve 28 is moved to the position 98a thus removing all suction from the plates. Then the suction box I5 can be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3, andtheplates 303I remain firmly and accurately glued to the removable plate I3. When this ha been done, the plate I3 and the plates 30-3I carried thereby can be removed from the table-top I2 for use in a multi-color printing which need not here be described in detail. If we assume that the above described operation was performed on a set of printing plates that eventually will be used to print yellow, it will be necessary to repeat the operation for other set of printing plates as for example plat s that will eventually rint red, blue and perhaps black. In any event, those versed in the printing art will appreciate the fact that the above series of color printing plates will all be in register and suitable for use in multi-color printing.

1 It will be noted that I have shown a device for handling two printing plates 30 and 3| at the same time. However it will be understood that a device for handlingone, three or more plates can be constructed in accordance with the teaching of my invention.

Asecond preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 4, 4a, 5, 5a, and 6, which illustrate a device for registering and mounting curved printing plates. This device or machine comprises a pair of spaced side frames III and II I between which a cylinder I I2 is rotatably supported in bearings I I4 and 4'. .To each end of the cylinder there is keyed a gear, these being designated H5 and H5, and to one end of the cylinder, adjacent frame III, there is keyed an index disk I I1. A cone-tipped locating pin I I8 is carried by the frame I I I and when entered into any one of a plurality of holes I20 formed in the disk II1 provides a means for accurately positioning the rotating index disk and thus the cylinder II 2.

A flexible curved mounting plate I25 is tightly fixed or clamped around the outer surface of the cylinder I I 2. This is accomplished by having one end of the curved plate I25 bent into a hook I28 (Fig. 6) which engages a suitably shaped edge of a cut-out or recess I29 which extends the full length of the cylinder I I2. The other end of the plate I25 is likewise hooked as at I30 and for the full length of the cylinder enters the recess I29. The hook I 30 is held in place by a clamp I3I positioned in the recess I 29 and fulcrumed at I32.

At intervals along the length of the clamp I3I and the cylinder II2 there are spaced a plurality of compression springs I33 located in pockets I38 formed in the cylinder II2. These springs bias the clamp I3I counterclockwise (as seen in Fig. 5) about the fulcrum I32. A D-shaped shaft I34, journaled in the cylinder II2 adjacent the clamp I3I can be rotated by a removable bar or other tool (not shown) placed into a hole I31 formed in either one or both of the protruding ends of the D-shaped shaft I34. When the D-shaped shaft I34 i rotated ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. 5, the curved portion of the shaft swings the clamp I3I clockwise against the springs I33 and causes the clamp to release the hooked end I30 of the plate I25. While I have provided one means for clamping the plate I25 to the cylinder, it will be understood that I am not limited to this particular means as other types of clamping means may be employed.

A suction box shelf I 50 is supported on the free or distal ends of a pair of spaced substantially horizontal arms I5I and I5I which have their other ends pivotally mounted on a pair of fulcrum studs I52 and I52, respectively, carried by the frames I I I and I I I. The suction box shelf I50 is prevented from uncontrolled downward movement by a pair of' upstanding links I53-I53, the upper ends of the links I53-I53 respectively being pivotally connected to the arms I5II5I by pins I54-I54'. The lower ends of the links I53I53 are pivotally attached to the distal ends of a pair of crank levers I56-I56 which are fixed to opposite ends of an operating cross shaft I51; opposite ends of which are journaled in the frames I I l--I I I. One end of the shaft I51 extends beyond the frame I I I and there has an operating lever I58 fixed to it. Movement of the lever I58, and thus the shaft I51, is limited by studs or pins I59 and I60 protruding from the outer face of the frame member I II. When the handle I58 is turned to the right, as seen in solid lines in Fig. 4 and in the right hand dash lines in Fig. 5, the suction box shelf I 50 is in the elevated or raised position, and when thehandle I58 is moved to the left (Figs. 5);. shown in. dash-dot lines; the suction boys shelf I50 is in. the: lowered position.- y

The-shelf. I:50'has:' a substantially flat table top I61: provided with a; pair of up facing 'depressions or suction: caviites 952: and I63, the cavities respectively being covered. by perforated plates I564 and I65 which are heldl in place by screws-.= Cementin'g tape; with its protective: covering down, may be firmly sucked against plate I05 and. trimmed to size around its edge; The bot tom of each cavity is: connected to a valve: I69 and I08 and the two valves are: connected by aacommon pipe I 65 toan exhaust pumpor vacuum: source not shown;

The registering and mounting device is also: provided with a top down-facing suctionbox I10 having a handle H4; The suction' box M0, as. will presently be explained, may be raised: above or lowered substantially onto the tabletop I'5I: oi the shelf I50. The top suctionbox I-I-' may also be moved to several difierent se'- lectedi positions crosswise of this shelf. Inorder tobe movably mounted the top suction box I10 is: formed: as part of: the distal end of: a support arm I'II which is hinged'by meansof a long guide bearing; I'I-2- on a crossshaft I 13. Thebox I has adowm-facing suction: cavity- I coveredby a perforated plate I1 6 which is held in place by screws The suction cavity, by way" ofa valve ITI isconnected to a flexible hose I18 which in turn is connected: to a source of vacuum: (not shown). Oppositeends= oh the shaft" I-'I-3 are fastened to the distal ends? ofa pair ofspaced levers I80 and I80, the other ends-oi which are fulcrumed about studs I81 and I8I respectively carried by the: frames III and I I I-.l A cross bar I85 has itsopposite ends bolted to portions of: the levers I80 I 80 at locations close to the shaft I 13: The-crossbar I35 carriesa plurality ofy, in-. thiscorse -three spacedlocatingbrackets IBIiaa I960, andv I851); Eachof: these: brackets is clamped to the: bar I85 by a bolt- IB'I, and each bracket hasa registering notch= I88, any one of which, under certain conditions, may be engaged-Ybyr registering lug I89 depending from an under part of theguide bearing- I'IZ; The notches I88 and the lug I89 provide a means for accurately locating the arm I1! and therefore the top suction box- H0 in a plurality of positions crosswise the. table-top I6 I Reference to Figs.- 4A- and 5A will show that the arms I80 and: I00 and the arm- I'II- may as sume an extended positionin which the arms I00'.-I80 pivot-clockwiseabout the studs I-8'I- I8I! andinuwhichlthe arm- I'II jack-knifes on theshaft IT3'.

Shaft I731;v in addition to being attached to arms I'ITI", also carries spaced. arms I90 and I90 which by means'of collars" I'9i and I9! are confined against'movementalong the shaft I13. A mid-portion of each of the arms I90'--I90*" is re spectively formedwitli-arackof depending teeth I92 and I92 which engage upper convezo por tions of the gears I I5 and II 5' respectively. The free-or distal ends (left portion offFigs. 4 -and 5 are joined by a handlebar I94 held inplaceby bolts: I95= thus making it necessary to move thearms I90 and I90 as a unit. The: counter clockwise-movement of: the:- arms I80 and: I80 about theshaft I84 is limited-by studs I98 and I98 whichare mountedzon framesI I'I and III,

The mechanism of Figs 4- and 5 -for registering and mounting curved printing; plates operates in the following; manner; lt willbe assumed that the: curved mounting plate: I-2-5 has previously been secured to the cylinder I I2- by means oi the hereinbefore described clamp I31 or by another suitable clamping? device. It will be further as-- sumed that there are a plurality of flat flexible printing plates I42" that are to be accurately ceme'nted to the said curved mounting plates I25 To start, a fiat printing plate, with its printed face uppermost, is accurately placed in acentral location on the table-top or shelf- I50- and registered with suitable marks on a transparency 293 (Fig; 8) whichmay be located accurately with respectto-the edges of perforated plate Hi4;- This is similar tothe method or using the transpar-' ency 93 shown in Figs 1 and 2, in whichpins, are employed;- toregister the transparency. Fur-' thermore, if desired the table-top-or suction box shelf I50 may be'fittedWitha plurality of adjustin'g: screws and springs similar to the screws 59;: 60' and and springs'50, 5+ and 52 showndn Figs-1'. These features; as applied to the second pr-e ferred embodiment of theinvention, are illustrated in Figs. '7 and-BWhichshow atransparency; 293 heldby screws 291 toa U-shaped bracket 29*? Which is pivotally mounted ona shaft 292 supported'by the rear ends of the'side-frames II-I and- I-I I-. The free end of the transparency 2-93 isprovided with aregisterhole 293 which-cooperates with a register pin 294 carried by the shelf I50. Alsoas' illustrated in Figs--7 and 8, the:she lf I50 is provided with a rectangular opening 23} which accommodates a movable suction boxllI-l The box 2 is held in'plaoe'and adjustably moved by a micrometrical and back lash free means similar to'that shown in Figsz l-andz-and coxn prising compression springs 250 engaging the rear of the boxldland a compression spring 252: engaging" the side ofthe box.-- The box-MI is-en gaged on one side by a sore 2;03 andion its front by screws 26-I- and 262. The box; 2M can be adjusted slightly tothe leftor right by the use of a smallhand' wheel 280 oarried onthe front of a shaft 294. The-rear end of the shaft 28I carries a pair of helical gears 283 whichdrive thescrew 2-03; k

When the printing plate is accurately placed; the valve I08 is-opened toapply suctionto the under surface of the printing plate I42; The register transparency is removed and t-he printingplate may be trimmedaround its edges flush-with theperforated plate I54; Then the upper suction box I10 isplaced-on-top of the printing plate I42; as it lies onthe perforated plate I00}. it beingv noted that the position assumed'by the suction box Il0-- is accurately governed by the racks I92-'--'-I92" engaging the gears I I5'- I'I5" and by the lug I-B9-engaging the notch I880. When the upper bog. isv in place, the valve IE0" is" closed and valve II? V is opened. This transfers the suction gripoftheprinting plate from the lower to theupper suction boxi In the meantimdor 'anytime before the next describedoperation, asl'ieet of adhesive I99 isplaced onthe upper surfaoe'of the-perforated plate I05'withthe protected side down; Thisadhesive sheet I99 isheld to thetable-top bysuction controlled-by the valve I68 and while so heldtheedgesaretrimmedtosize; Then the upper suctionbox I10 is lifted su-fli-- ciently: to disengage the: lug. I 99' from the notch; I880, and the upper suction box ismoved-until the lug; I09 engages 'the notch Iii-Bar This=aligns the printing plate I42 withthe adhesive I99 on the perforated plate I 05,- and when the plate M2 is lowered to rest" on the adhesive it I adheres to the under surface-of -the-printingtplate I41- Then the valve I08 is opened and the upper suction boii I94 is raised, and as the suction boxes to another accurately.

is raised to a point wherethe protective coating can be and is removed from the bottom surface of the adhesive I99. These operations have prepared the printing plate I42 for cementing to the curved mounting plate I25 carried on the cylinder II2, which operation will now be described. First the table-top I50 is lowered out of the way by moving the arm I58 from right to left as seen in Fig. 5. Then the upper suction box and the printing plate carried thereby are moved to one of three selected positions axially of the cylinder I I2; these three positions being determined by the engagement ofthe lug I89 with a selected one of the notches I88a, I880 or I b. Next the pin I I8 is removed, and with firm downward pressure on the handle I14 the upper suction box I10 is moved from the left of Figs. 4 and 5 to right thereof. This, due to the engagement of the racks I92I92' with the gears IIS-I I5, rotates the cylinder H2 in a clockwise direction and, due to the adhesive on the lower surface of the printing plate I42, this plate is peeled oh the uppersuction box and adheres to the curved mounting plate I25. This results in the printing plate being rolled into exact placement on the curved mounting plate I25.

With certain types of adhesives the procedure may be to trim the adhesive that has both surfaces protected and is held by suction to perforated suction plate I65, then transferring it to the suction box I in accurate register, then removing the lower protective covering as box I10 is raised, then placing box I10 with the transparency in its desired location and by rolling it against the mounting plate, peeling it off box I10 and accurately transferring it to the mounting plate. Now the top protective layer is removed and the printing plate may be cemented on top of the adhesive in a similar manner.

I As soon as one printing plate has been properly glued to the mounting plate, the handle bar handle I14. Raising of the two handles disengages the racks I 92-492 from the gears II5-II5'. This allows the cylinder NZ to be turned to a new selected location, the exact position of which is determined by the pin I I8 accurately engaging one of the holes I20 in the index plate disk I".

The above operation isthen repeated for each successive printing plate I42 until all desired printing plates are glued to the cylinder I I2 in desired locations. .When this is accomplished, the clamp I 3| is unlocked and the mounting plate I25. is removed from the cylinder H2. The mounting plate is now ready for placement on a printing cylinder of a rotary printing machine. ;.1 It will be understood that a series of mounting plates, similar to the mounting plate I25 can be accurately placed on the above described machine, and when so placed the series of mounted plates can be used to apply a series of color impressions to a web of paper in a manner similar to the way the series of mounted flat printing plates are used. a

Although not shown in the drawings, all of preferably are encircled with a resilient sealing strip, such as for example a soft rubber strip or a strip with feathered edge. This makes it possible for the various suction boxes to grip various kinds of printing plates even though the surface of the plate may be irregular. It will also be understood that the suction boxes may be replaced by suitable adhesives to hold, lift, and transfer plates from one location it is raised it engages the What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A registering device for registering and mounting a series of printing plates comprising a frame, an up-facing suction box supported by said frame, said up-facing suction box having a perforated cover for gripping the lower surface of said printing plate, a down-facing suction box supported by said frame, said down-facing suction box having a perforated cover for gripping the upper surface of said printing plate, means for exhausting air from both of said suction boxes, means for moving said down-facing suction box from a position above said rip-facing suction box to a location apart from said upfacing suction box, means for registering said down-facing suction-box with respect to said up-fa-cing suction-box.

2. A registering device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising a support, an upfacing suction box carried by said support, said rip-facing suction box having a perforated cover for gripping the lower surface of said printing plate, adjustable devices for moving said suction box with respect to said support, a down-facing suction box carried by said support, said down-facing suction box having a perforated cover for gripping the upper surface of said printing plate, and means for moving said down-facing suction box and the printing plate held thereby.

3. A registering device for registering and suction boxes arranged to exhaust them, and a mounting plate positioned on said table-top, and means for registering said down-facing suction box with respect to said up-facing suction box.

4. A registering device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising a fiat table-top, an up-facing suction box adjustably supported by said table-top, at least one adjusting screw arranged to move said suction box with respect to said table-top, a down-facing suction box pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said up-facing suction box, exhausting pipes and valves arranged to exhaust said suction boxes, and means for registering said down-facing suction box with respect to said up-facing suction box.

5. A registering device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising a frame structure, a pair of up-facing suction boxes adjustably supported by said frame,

a perforated plate secured to the top of each of carried by said support frame,

ll by said table-top and arranged to register a mounting plateand said down-facing suction box on said table-top, and means for selectively exhausting said "boxes.

6. A device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising a support frame, a suction plate gripping device said gripping device having a perforated cover for gripping the lower surface of a printing plate, a second suction plate gripping device carried by said support frame and movable to a position above said first gripping device,saidsecond gripping device hav- "ing a perforated cover for gripping the upper surface of a printing plate, means for alternately causing said suction gripping devices to grip said plate, means for registering said second suction plate gripping device with respect to the suction plate gripping device carried by said support frame and means for moving said second suction plate gripping device from a position above said first plate gripping device to a location apart therefrom.

'7. A device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising -a support, an up-facing suction plate gripping device carried by said support, said 'up-fa'cing suction plate gripping device having perforations for gripping the lower surface of a printing plate, adjustable devices for moving said plate gripping device with respect to said support, a second suction plate gripping device carried by said support, said second suction plate gripping device having perforations for gripping the upper surface of the said printing plate, and means for moving said second gripping device and the printing plate gripped thereby.

.8. .A device for registering and mounting a vseries of multi-color printing plates comprising a flat table-top, an up-facing suction box adjustably supported by said table-top, a transparency positionable upon said suction box, at least one adjusting screw arranged to move said suction box with respect to said table-top and into register with said transparency, a down-facing suction box pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said up-facing suction box, exhausting pipes and valves arranged to exhaust said suction "boxes, means for registering said down-facing suction box with respect to said up-facing suction box.

'9. A device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising a support frame, at least one 'up-faci-ng gripping means adjustably supported by said frame, a plurality of adjusting means carried by said frame and engaging said gripping means, a registering means positionable upon said up-facing gripping means, a plurality of resilient members opposing said adjusting means, a down-facing gripping "means pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said frame, a plurality of registering pins-carried by said frame and arranged to register said down-facing gripping means, a table-top carried by said frame at .a point remote from said up-facing gripping means, a plurality of registering pins carried by said table-top and arranged to register a mounting plate and said down-facing gripping means, and means for selectively causing said gripping means to grip the plates.

10. A .device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates, comprising a first up-facing suction box arranged to gri one side of a pr-intingplate, a pair of spaced pivotally mounted arms the distal ends of "which are arranged to support said first suction box, means for raising and lowering the distal ends of said arms and said suction box, a second downfacing suction box arran'ged to rgripthe-other side of said printing late, means for moving said down-facing suction box into a plurality of selected positions, one of said positions being substantially above said up-facingsuction box, a rotatably carried cylinder, means for indexing said cylinder, a flexible mounting plate secured to the surface of said'cylinder, -.a gear secured to said cylinder, a rack engagable with said gear .andsecured to .saidmeans for moving said downfacing suction box, and adhesive for securing .the printing plate held by said down-facing suction box to said mounting plate.

11 .A device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates, comprising aiplategripping device arranged .togripthe lower surface of :a printing .plate, means for raising :and lowering .said plate gripping device, a second plate gripping device :arranged to grip the upper surface of the printing plate, a meansfor moving said second plate gripping device, a rotatable cylinder mounted adjacent said gripping device, 'a :pair of gearsrotatable with saidcylinder, a pair of racks connected with .said second plate gripping device and respectively engageable with said .gears, pivotally mounted levers connected with :said racks, a handle for :moving said racks and :said second plate gripping device in unison with said :gears and cylinder, and adhesive securing said plate to said cylinder as the plate and :cylinder are moved in unison.

l2. A process for registering and mounting a plurality of flexible printing plates which com- :pr'ises placing a flexible printing plate upon a first flat surface, lowering a second flat surface over said printing plate, securing said printing plate to said second surface, moving said second surface and said printing plate to a location remote from said first surface, placing adhesive on the lower surface of said printing plate while it is being held by said second surface, rolling said flexible printing plate, while it is being held by said second flat surface, upon and in register with a curved mounting plate thereby securing said flexible printing plate to said curved :mounting plate, and repeating the above process until said curved mounting plate carries a plurality of printing plates.

13. A registering device for registering and mountinga series of printing plates, a lower surface to contact the back of each printing plate, means exerting a force on the back of the printing plate to hold the printing plate to the lower surface, micrometrical and backlash free means to move the lower surface in all directions and rotations in its plane to register each printing plate, a second surface to contact the plate on its printing surface, means exerting a force on the printing surface to hold the printing plate to the second surface, means to transfer the holding force from the back to the printing surface of the plate, means to move the second surface with the printing plates to a new location where they will be fixed in accurate registered relationship on a mounting plate, and means for registering said second surface with respect to said lower surface.

14. A register device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates, comprising a support, an up-facing surface carried by said support and arranged to hold a printing plate, micrometric and backlash free adjustment devices for moving said up-facing surface with respect to said support, a frame, a down-facing surface carriedby said frame and arranged to hold the said printing plate, means to move said frame, said down-facing surface and the printing plate held thereto, and means for registering said frame with respect to said support, and means for selectively releasing said printing plate from said surfaces.

15. A process for registering and mounting a series of multi color printing plates which comprises placing printing plates upon independent first surfaces, applying a holding force to said printing plates upon the first surfaces, adjusting the first surfaces to bring the printing plates in register with a gauge which is lowered upon the printing plates, removing the gauge and having a second surface contact the printing surface of the plates, removing the plate holding force from the first surfaces and applying it to the second surface, moving the second surface with the plates to a third surface, fixing the printing plates on the third surface in register with it and with each other.

16. A printing plate registering and mounting device comprising a frame structure, up-facing surfaces adjustably supported by said frame, means for holding printing plates to said surfaces, no-backlash-means for moving and rotating said surfaces, register means to indicate the correct location of the printing surfaces, a second surface to contact and hold the upper or printing surfaces of the plates, means to move the second surface to a different location to apply adhesives, means to move the second surface to a third surface, and means to accurately locate the register means, the second surface above the first surfaces, the third surface on the support, and the second surface on the third surface.

1'7. A registering device for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates comprising a flat table-top, an up-facing suction box adjustably supported by said table-top, a registering transparency positionable over said suction box, at least one adjusting screw arranged to move said suction box with respect to said table-top and into register with said transparency, a down-facing suction box pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said up-facing suction box, exhausting pipes and valves arranged to exhaust said suction boxes, and means for registering said suction boxes with respect to each other.

18. In a device for registering and mounting a printing plate, a suction box having a perforated cover plate constructed and arranged to engage and hold the rear of said printing plate, a second suction box having a perforated cover plate constructed and arranged to engage and hold the face of said same printing plate, and means for controlling the suction in said boxes.

19. A process for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates which comprises placing a printing plate, designed to print a first color, upon a first suction surface, holding said printing plate to said surface by suction, properly positioning the said printing plate with the aid of said suction surface, lowering a second suction surface over said printing plate, securing said printing plate to said second surface by the use of suction, releasing the suction of the first surface, moving said second suction surface and said plate to a location remote from said first suction surface, and fixing said printing plate upon and in register with a third surface,

releasing the grip of said second suction surface from said printing plate, and repeating said process for printing plates designed to print one or more additional colors.

20. A process for registering and mounting a series of multi-color printing plates which comprises placing a printing plate upon a first suction surface, holding said printing plate upon said first suction surface, adjusting said first suction surface to bring the printing plate into register with a gauge which is lowered upon the printing plate, removing the gauge and having a second suction holding surface contact the printing surface of the plate, applying a suction holding force to said second suction surface, removing suction from the first suction surface, moving the second suction surface with the plate attached thereto to a third surface, and securing the printing plate to the third surface in register therewith.

21. A device for registering and mounting on a cylinder, a flexible printing plate having a design carrying side and a non-design carrying side, said device comprising, means remote from said cylinder for registering said printing plate, a gripping device arranged to grip in register the design carrying side of said printing plate, means for applying adhesive to the non-design carrying side of said plate, means of which one part is secured to said cylinder and Of which the other part is secured to said gripping device for holding said printing plate with said non-design carrying side in register with said cylinder, and a handle connected to one of said last named parts and designed when moved to roll said printing plate from said gripping device to and in register with said cylinder.

22. A device for registering and mounting a series of printing plates, comprising, a frame, a cylinder, means for turnably supporting said cylinder on said frame, an up-facing suction box supported by said frame, said up-facing suction box having a perforated cover for gripping the lower surface of said printing plates, a downfacing suction box supported by said frame, said down-facing suction box having a perforated cover for gripping the upper surface of said printing plates, means for exhausting air from both of said suction boxes, an arm carried by said frame and movably supporting said down-facing suction box, and an alignment member carried by said frame and engaged by said arm, said alignment member aligning said down-facing suction plate and the printing plate carried thereby with respect to said cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 927,049 Howe July 6, 1909 1,647,246 Ogden Nov. 1, 1927 1,914,127 Huebner June 13, 1933 2,131,323 Huebner Sept. 27, 1938 2,174,882 Huebner Oct. 3, 1939 2,192,924 Maher Mar. 12, 1940 2,223,357 Nahmens Dec. 3 1940 2,236,000 Koessler Mar. 25, 1941 2,324,399 Kaye July 13, 1943 2,351,274 McCarter June 13, 1944 2,417,496 Huebner Mar. 18,. 1947 2,418,754 Brunet Apr. 8, 1947 2,481,928 Huebner Sept. 13,. 1949 2,559,533 Daniels July 3, 1951' 

